Gift Ideas for Travelers

plane wing over SF Bay fog

I found some really neat gifts for the traveler in your life that I wanted to share with you. Spoiler alert, they’re all on Etsy!

Christmas Wrapping Paper pack - Botanical patterns - Set of 3 recyclable giftwrap sheets
Botanical Christmas Wrapping Paper pack by Iris Merks.

While I am an affiliate and may earn commission from purchases, it’s really not about Etsy as much as the individual makers who use it as a platform to sell their creations.

 

Cactus shirt by Marcy Ellis (screenshot).

Etsy holiday shopping tips:

1. Shop the Sales

 

charcuterie tray
Personalized charcuterie tray by Happy Avocado Wood.

2. Make it Personal

  • Lots of items can be customized with a name or sometimes even a design or quote.
  • Some sellers offer gift wrap or the option to include a handwritten note for your recipient.

 

Personalized travel wallet close up
By St. George Leather Shop.

3. Order ASAP

  • The earlier you order, the better – especially for customized items!
  • Check the shipping time. If you’re logged in and have your address saved, you’ll be able to see an estimate of how long an item will take to get to your ZIP code specifically.
  • Some items are guaranteed to arrive in time for the holidays.

 

Screenshot of Etsy’s digital gift teaser.
Screenshot of Etsy’s digital gift teaser.

What to do about gifts that may not arrive in time?

Let’s say you found the perfect thing at the last minute, you have some options.

Local pickup: If you happen to order from a seller in your area, ask if there’s a way to arrange to pick up your order in person.

Expedite it: Some sellers offer options for upgrading to faster shipping.

Gift teaser: Let your recipient know that something is on the way! Mark your purchase as a gift when you’re checking out, and then opt to have them notified about it. You can designate when the teaser will be sent and choose whether you’d like it to include a sneak peek of their present.

 

Traveler wearing a tube blanket as a scarf
Via Travel Tube Blankets.

Travel gear gift ideas

So here it is, 6 clever gifts for your favorite travelers!

Travel Tube Blanket
Via Travel Tube Blankets.

Travel Tube Blanket

Think of an infinity scarf that can stretch out big enough to curl up in during a chilly flight, and you’ve got the concept behind this super versatile travel accessory! Use it as a shawl, a swimsuit coverup, or a hood to shield you from the weather.

Shop owner – and frequent traveler – Carlyn Hooyer was inspired by the multi-functional Philippine cultural garment malong. It’s a traditional tube skirt commonly worn on the island of Mindanao, where she grew up. She created her own updated version that’s  designed with travel in mind.

Person wearing a Travel Tube Blanket as a shawl, while sitting in the airport.
Via Travel Tube Blankets.

Things to know about Travel Tube Blankets:

  • Lots of colors and patterns to choose from.
  • Available in thicknesses from lightweight to fleece.
  • Regular price range: $52.50-125.50
  • Sale: $42-100. All styles are 20% off through December 1!
  • Ships from Bainbridge Island, WA

 

open travel wallet with passport and cards inside
Travel Wallet by St. George Leather Shop.

Travel Wallet

This is a very convenient way to keep your passport and a couple of cards handy as you make your way through the airport! It makes it all easy to access, yet secure, snapped into a little leather wristlet envelope.

Travel Wallets
A few different colors of Travel Wallets by St. George Leather Shop.
  • Add the recipient’s name stamped in silver or gold on the cover for a personal touch.
  • Genuine Italian leather, available in 16 colors.
  • Removable wrist strap.
  • Regular price: $17.98
  • Sale: $8.99! 50% off through November 29.
  • Ships from Ukraine.

 

travel-sized lavender products in a toiletry bag
Lavender Traveler’s Gift Set by Nustad Family Ranch, a boutique lavender farm.

Lavender Traveler’s Gift Set

Four different hydrating skincare products in travel-ready sizes! They are all made with natural, cruelty-free ingredients and infused with lavender grown on a family farm.

The set contains:

    • 2 oz. Lavender Hand + Body Cream
    • 2 oz. Lavender Hydrosol
    • 2 oz. Lavender Hand Salve
    • 10 ml. Shea Butter Chapstick
    • Reusable Pouch
Person spraying Lavender Hydrosol
Lavender Hydrosol Spray by Nustad Family Ranch.
  • “Gift wrap” option: a handwritten note on plantable seed paper.
  • 3% of profits donated to organizations benefitting bees and local small farms!
  • Regular price: $58.14
  • Sale: $36.05 (38% off) through December 2.
  • Ships from Monterey, CA
Bee on top of lavender plants.
Bee and lavender plants via Nustad Family Ranch.
Stocking Stuffers
baggage tags
Luggage tags by So Good So Wood.

Personalized Luggage Tags

  • A variety of colors and lots of personalization options.
  • Gift wrapping available: Simple, reusable linen gift bag.
  • Regular price: $11
  • Sale Price: $8.25 (25% off) through November 29.
  • Ships from Ukraine. Shop owner Andrew says, “This is a challenging time for our country, but we try to continue our work – to help our fellow Ukrainians in need, and to provide for our families.”

 

Biodegradable Dissolving Paper Single Use Soaps
Tin of single-use soaps by Windhill Scented Creations.

Biodegradable Dissolving Paper Single Use Soaps

These thin sheets of soap-coated paper are perfect for washing up while traveling! The paper dissolves away, as you lather up.

  • Package of 12 in a handy travel tin.
  • Shapes include circle, flower, butterfly, heart, and teddy bear.
  • Regular price: $7.99
  • Ships from Gilbert, AZ

 

suitcase pin
Suitcase pins by Danger In Design. Original Artwork © Elly Ang.

Travel + Explore Enamel Hinged Pin

Really cute enamel pin that looks like a suitcase – and opens up, so you can see what’s packed inside! Designed by independent artist Elly Ang.

  • Two pin posts at the back.
  • Regular price: $14.68
  • Ships from the Philippines.
open suitcase pin
Open suitcase pin by Danger In Design.

 

Holiday Happenings (Nov/Dec) 2024

trail at Red Rock State Park, Sedona

The Happenings List

These are my handpicked upcoming events for art, culture, food, and nature lovers with *Goodies starred throughout the List! I’ve also included some Etsy affiliate links, so you can support local makers and this site at the same time!

people looking at paintings in a museum
Artwork at the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena.

• Anywhere •

Being Human Festival: Ohhhh the Humanities!

November 7 – 16 online

Free 10-day festival that seeks to celebrate and engage the public with the humanities. Being Human believes that literature, history, classics, archaeology, art history, philosophy, languages, cultural studies, music, theatre, and theology help us understand what it means to be human and should belong to everyone. While most of the festival events take place in the UK, there are always several virtual and hybrid events on its program.

 

“The whole road is of one design…made by hand and breaking through mountain chains and hillsides…it is one of the greatest constructions that the world has ever seen.”

—Miguel de Estete, describing the Incan Road

andes mountains in peru
In the Andes, Peru

The Great Inka Road: Engineering an Empire

ongoing online 

Online exhibition exploring the history and culture of the Andean peoples that formed the Inkan/Incan Empire and the monumental road that would eventually unite their territories – and its status today.

  • National Museum of the American Indian online resources
  • Free
  • On Etsy: Indian Creations Corp – blankets made by indigenous artisans in the Andes

 

View-Master reel with slides that combine art and poetry.
“DeLand” by Teresa Carmody and Madison Creech on a View-Master reel. Via UA Poetry Center.

Book Objects: You Call That a Book?!

ongoing online

Items from the University of Arizona Poetry Center’s online collection that stretch the meaning of what a book can be!

  • Free

Continue reading “Holiday Happenings (Nov/Dec) 2024”